Enforcement of the Real ID will be delayed by two years in Kentucky and across the United States, the Department of Homeland Security announced Monday.
The delay offers Kentuckians, and those across the country, two more years to request a compliant driving or identity card that maintains air travel access and military base entry, Gov. Andy Beshear said in a release.
The former deadline to receive a Real ID was May 3, 2023; that date has been moved to May 7, 2025.
“We’ve made great strides in the past two years to increase Real ID access for Kentuckians who prefer to use a driver’s license or ID card to maintain travel and access benefits,” Beshear said. “Kentuckians who have a Real ID can rest easy they’ll be prepared when the time comes. The grace period is welcome news, especially for those still recovering from back-to-back natural disasters, who have more time to gather and replace needed documents if they choose to apply for a Real ID.”
The Real ID Act is a federal law that sets standards for all U.S. states and territories regarding the issuance of state-issued credentials. Once the enforcement date takes effect, every air traveler 18 years of age and older will need a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or identification card, or a federally-compliant form of identification, to pass through airport security checkpoints for domestic air travel, enter military bases, or enter federal buildings that require identification.
“DHS continues to work closely with U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories to meet Real ID requirements,” Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas said. “This extension will give states needed time to ensure their residents can obtain a Real ID-compliant license or identification card. DHS will also use this time to implement innovations to make the process more efficient and accessible. We will continue to ensure that the American public can travel safely.”
About 17 percent of Kentuckians with state-issued driving and ID cards have Real ID version, according to Beshear’s release.
“All Driver Licensing Regional Offices are equipped to serve any Kentuckian who’d like to apply for a REAL ID version of their driving credential or ID card,” Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray said. “Most REAL ID cardholders can skip a trip when they’re due to renew by doing it online or by mail.”
First-time Real ID applicants must apply in person. A list of required documents can be found here.
“I encourage Kentuckians to make a REAL ID plan now by gathering the necessary application documents,” Gray said. “If you plan to use another federally-accepted document, like a passport, to travel within the US, be sure to check the expiration date to ensure it will still be valid come May 7, 2025.”
A valid passport is still needed to travel internationally.
